From Hospitality Executive to General Manager & Assistant Chief Pilot at ATP.Academy (South Florida ATP-CTP / ATPL Training)

This is the story of Craig Steel – and why his path matters for anyone who’s dreaming about an aviation career but thinks “it’s too late for me.” From London to South Florida. From hotel executive to General Manager and Assistant Chief Pilot.

From zero flight time to training the next generation of airline pilots

Before aviation, Craig had a completely different life.

He built a high-performing career in hospitality and restaurant development, leading multimillion-dollar teams and operations. He was recognized with awards including Hilton’s Manager of the Year and Restaurant of the Year.

That version of Craig was successful on paper. But it wasn’t his dream.

So he did something most people only talk about: he walked away and started over.

Craig committed to aviation full-time and enrolled in an accelerated professional pilot program. He completed his training in just eight months, passing every FAA checkride on the first attempt – a 100% first-time pass rate.

Immediately after earning his instructor certificates (CFI, CFII, MEI), he didn’t wait for an opportunity. He built one. He joined SkyEagle Aviation Academy, started flying with students, earned trust quickly, and moved through leadership roles: Instructor → Assistant Chief Pilot → General Manager.

Craig Steel is the General Manager and Assistant Chief Pilot at SkyEagle Aviation Academy and ATP.Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He’s a professional pilot and active flight instructor with CFI, CFII, and MEI certificates, which means he teaches everything from basic flight skills to instrument flying to multi-engine operations. 

Craig is also pushing data-driven training. Every stage of student progress – simulator performance, ATC communication quality, checklist discipline, and checkride readiness – is tracked and reviewed. That feedback loop lets instructors personalize coaching the same way airlines do with line-oriented safety data.

The result is fewer surprises on checkride day and pilots who already think like crew before they ever apply to an operator.

Not Just a School – a Community

Craig is very open about what attracted him to SkyEagle and ATP.Academy: culture.

“I wanted to be part of a flight school with its own identity – where instructors can truly be themselves and connect with their students,” he says. “We have a great vibe in the school, and I make it a priority to engage with every student who walks through our doors.”

Under Craig’s management, students aren’t just scheduled and pushed to the next flight block. They’re watched. Coached. Called out when they’re slipping. Celebrated when they hit milestones. The school runs awards, events, and activities specifically to make sure each student feels like they’re part of a professional team.

Craig is also pushing data-driven training. Every stage of student progress – simulator performance, ATC communication quality, checklist discipline, and checkride readiness – is tracked and reviewed. That feedback loop lets instructors personalize coaching the same way airlines do with line-oriented safety data. The result is fewer surprises on checkride day and pilots who already ‘think like crew’ before they ever apply to an operator.

He has trained inside that high-volume model – and he respects its intensity. He completed a fast-track program in eight months and aced every checkride. 

But what he’s building now at SkyEagle Aviation Academy and ATP.Academy is intentionally more personal. He’s made it clear: you can move fast without feeling anonymous.

From London Roots to U.S. Flight Deck

Craig was born in London and moved to the United States at age 11, where he built his education and professional life. He began his career in the U.S. hospitality industry before transitioning full-time into aviation.

That international element matters. A huge portion of ATP.Academy’s students are not U.S. citizens; many are already commercial pilots in other countries who come to Florida to upgrade to FAA ATP privileges, convert licenses, or get type ratings recognized by U.S. airlines and Part 135 or Part 91 employers. 

In the U.S., the Airline Transport Pilot Certificate is the top license. Most airline jobs require it, and to be eligible you typically need:

– 1,500 total hours,

– a Commercial license with instrument privileges,

– and completion of the FAA’s ATP Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP) before you can even sit for the ATP Multi-Engine written exam. 

This “hours + ATP-CTP + checkride” path is exactly where Craig spends most of his time now.

ATP.Academy (the advanced training division based in Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and Fort Lauderdale International) focuses on that last mile: getting pilots airline-ready. The school delivers ATP-CTP classes using full-motion A320 Level D simulators, ground school led by experienced airline pilots, and structured prep for the ATP written and the final ATP level checkride. 

This “hours + ATP-CTP + checkride” path is exactly where Craig spends most of his time now.

For working commercial pilots – including foreign captains who want an FAA ATP and possibly an FAA type rating (A320, Citation, etc.) – this is a huge shortcut. Instead of trying to stitch together separate providers for ATP-CTP, aircraft training, and checkride, ATP.Academy walks you through steps in one place:

This “hours + ATP-CTP + checkride” path is exactly where Craig spends most of his time now.

1. ATP-CTP Course

30 hours of ground + 10 hours of simulator training (including Level D A320 sessions at FLL). This course is FAA-mandated before you can even take the ATP Multi-Engine written. 

2. Written Exam Strategy

Students get coaching on test logistics, prep apps, and how to schedule the FAA knowledge exam efficiently. 

3. ATP Checkride / ATP + Type

After you’ve got the written test done, ATP.Academy lines up aircraft/simulator time and the final practical so you walk out with the FAA ATP certificate – with or without a type rating like the Airbus A320 or Cessna Citation, depending on your career path.

Craig pushes airline discipline early because he’s seen what happens when you wait too long to build those habits.

When regional and charter operators evaluate low-time pilots, they’re looking for more than hours. They’re looking for people who already behave like crew members.